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Comment by bhouston | Hacker News Reader

There is currently not a SINGLE American citizen under indictment, investigation, or facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The one case tied to US soldiers in Afghanistan was ended.

So why is the US doing this with such intensity right now?

( My question was rhetorical, you can see in the initial ICC sanctions from the Whitehouse it was all about Israel + Netanyahu: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/impo... )

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I know your question is rhetorical, but for the avoidance of doubt: https://www.icc-cpi.int/defendant/netanyahu

It’s a preemptive attack to prevent accountability for Trump and Hegseth under the next presidency. All of those extrajudicial boat attacks that have been justified by claiming they were smuggling drugs (cocaine imports to the US haven’t dropped at all, BTW) are likely unjustified murders.

This administration attacks any body or authority that has the power to hold them accountable. See: attacks on the judiciary, attacks on the media, attacks on academia, etc.

This. It’s to protect themselves against any potential future investigations.

I dont thimk they are that rational and planning ahead. It is reflection of their values and feelings.

It is ideological. Both of them and their close rich supporters feel ICC goals are abomination on itself, they put limits on power and they are therefore "bad" and "tyranny".

Hegseth dont plan. As evidenced by Iran war daily. Trump dont plan legal issues. They dont exist in his head at all.

Senior officials in the Trump regime know that we may decide to handcuff them and send them to the ICC after democracy is restored.

Don't count on the Democrats growing any... erhm... spine in the next 2 years.

I think Trump just wants to be able to play golf at his courses in Scotland without being arrested for his decisions to arbitrarily make war however he wants. I honestly think it's that simple. He is a simple man.

Then maybe he should write off his Greenland ambitions.

He may be a simple man, but he's also a malicious petty man.

I mean, obviously it’s because of the Netanyahu thing plus Trump is probably gonna be on there once he is done plus and I think this is a big one, Putin doesn’t want it around.

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